News / Schools to remain closed on Thursday
Police advise people to stay at home and not to travel unless absolutely necessary
SCHOOLS and early learning settings in Shetland will remain closed for a third day tomorrow (Thursday).
The council said that with temperatures forecast to fall below freezing tonight, uncertainty over access to side roads for school transport across Shetland and the ongoing disruption of power supply across the islands, the decision has been taken for schools and early learning settings to stay closed tomorrow.
Fair Isle Primary School will, however, remain open. The Eric Gray Centre at Seafield will also close tomorrow.
Police are advising that the majority of side roads remain impassable. In addition, “significant snowdrifts” are blocking the the A971 Sandness and B9078 Eshaness roads. All main two lane roads are now passable with care.
More than 170 landlines at Gutcher are still not working which means 999 calls cannot connect. Police Scotland can be contacted via mobile phone or by using their website.
Chief inspector Stuart Clemenson said: “Local and national partners and members of the community are working round the clock to ensure vulnerable people have the support they need.
“Responders have been out on foot checking on sheltered accommodation residents and delivering medication, while there has been a phenomenal response from SSEN who have extra engineers coming over on flights and by ferry.
“While we wait for power to be restored to all homes, I continue to urge people to stay at home and find ways to stay warm.
“It’s really important that we all check in with vulnerable people when severe weather affects our communities, and that community spirit will be extremely important in Shetland at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Shetland Recreational Trust announced a short while ago that all its facilities are re-opening again on Thursday apart from Whalsay where power has not been restored yet.
Operation manager Robert Geddes said: “We strongly advise customers to check with facilities prior to travel. This is particularly important for early opening times and later in evenings when travel conditions are most challenging for customers and staff.
“We’ve asked staff to ensure social media channels are kept up to date with information and will in particular update at 6.30am for 7am openings if there’s any disruption expected. Customers can also get up to date information notifications through the SRT app and website.”
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